Laghurajswami Biography

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 14

they should not come in the way of someone asking for the enlightenment exclusively for the sake of spiritual well being."
By about that time Shrimad had addressed a letter to Ambälälbhäi covering the same subject. Therein it was mentioned, "It is always better to bear; otherwise that would lead to unnecessary problems. ... Even if they let go the matter without formal repentance, Lalluji needs to keep in mind that he should not have done so. If there is a lay writer to whom a letter can be dictated in the presence of someone like Devkaranji, it is admissible to the sect; the people would not mostly raise objection thereto. If, however, any objection is apprehended, it is worth to observe patience for the time being. The objective of avoiding clash among the people should not be lost sight of."
After Lallujiswami had completed the monsoon of 1895 at Surat, the chief of that sect had written a letter from Mälwä asking him to go to Khambhät in 1896. Accordingly Lallujiswämi had passed the monsoon of that year in Khambhät. During that period Shrimad had come from Rälaj and stayed at Khambhät for a week. That time Lallujiswämi and those five monks used to go to him. That was being seriously debated by the people and other monks. The matter had also reached the chief monk in a magnified form. During 1897 twenty monks had therefore assembled in Khambhat for deliberating the same. In that connection Ambälälbhäi had briefly written to Shrimad as under.
“Twenty monks have assembled here at the instance of Bhånjirakh. Munishri Lalluji and other five monks have been following your guidance. That has led to acute criticism from others. The liberation-seekers here act as per your advice, but the critics have been indulging in limitless malice. Even if one mildly points to the right code for monks, they take it in the wrong sense ...and propound inappropriately. The monks and other liberation-seekers have been maintaining equanimity and do not say anything. Even if we try to say something, the response is always wrong. What can be done under these circumstances? My Lord, you are our only resort!
“From among the monks, who are on the right path, they call one by one and exert undue pressure upon them. They try to move them from that path; they ridicule them in different ways in the presence of other people. Those six monks have still been observing equanimity. Muni Devkaranji is used to speak out, yet he has been controlling himself. Those on the other side are very rigid in their approach. If they suddenly excommunicate these six monks, how should they respond? In case, they do not excommunicate, but press them one by one to stay on their side, what would be the resort for the monks? This situation has made some truth-seekers very firm. They feel that the sectarian contact is wrong, but if they have to continue in that contact, what should they do? They are seeking guidance in the matter.
"It has not been possible to write in this letter at length. Though we have been staying without any sense of disaffection, the heat of the fire from the other side does not fail to have its impact; still we are trying to cool it down. Let bliss prevail in the world by favor of your grace. In spite of our best efforts the mind gets perturbed on account of the unwholesome environment. They may not allow the monks to budge from their clutches. They generally avoid talking to us.... I am not capable to remain firm and happen to speak out; but they ridicule whatever truth we try to convey and that again leads to compassion."
On account of Shrimad's advice to stay in peace and unity, Lallujiswämi was holding humility and gentleness in spite of all these hardships and had remained obedient to the chief monk. He used to spend most of the time in Selfstudy etc. That did not fail to have the positive impact upon others. The people could make out his greatness by virtue of his peaceful impressive personality, devotion, detachment etc. Moreover, the discourses of Devkaranji could change the minds of many critics.
By the end of 1897 Lallujiswami wrote a letter to Shrimad in which he mentioned, "Lord, from Khambhät Muni Chhaganji has handed over a letter to Ambälälbhäi with the instructions to read it to me and other monks. He has written that he is feeling sad at our not going to Ahmedabad. ... Lord, while thinking over the matter we made out that we have no intention to avoid Ahmedabad. Moreover since the monk on our side feels sad and insists upon our going there, we may better go with your permission. We have accordingly written to Ahmedabad and Khambhät."
In reply Shrimad wrote, "Moving towards Ahmedabad and staying there need not cause the feeling of sadness or gloominess and should not perturb the mind. While thinking over it from the long-range benefit, however, it occurs to us that it is not worth staying there at present. ... At the time of next contact tell them to point out if they have